Air Advantage

Air Advantage Internet Service

Air Advantage is a fixed wireless and fiber internet provider in portions of Michigan. Downloads speeds average 200 Mbps but if fiber optic service is available at your address those speeds can reach 1,000. Cities served include but may not be limited to Ann Arbor, Caro, Chelsea, Clio, Davison, Dexter, Imlay City, Lapeer, Romeo, and Saginaw. Fixed wireless plans have unlimited data, require a one-year contract, and range in cost from $48/mo. to $155/mo. using auto-pay. Pricing correlates to download speeds. The slowest download speed is up to 5 Mbps. The max download speed is up to 50 Mbps at the high end and that would be sufficient for streaming in 4k.
Fixed wireless internet sends high-speed signals to and from your devices on radio waves. It qualifies as broadband. Fixed wireless signals have a reduced latency rate and also feature a higher bandwidth. This type of signal is considered more stable than mobile broadband because there is a limit to the number of users that can be hitting it at one time. The fixed wireless base station typically accommodates about hundred users so this is a control factor in the volume of traffic on the signal at any one time.
Fixed wireless internet uses a radio antenna, usually mounted on our roof, that points directly to a nearby wireless tower. The tower has an internet connection and sends data in a straight line to your antenna. The antenna is connected by cable to a router inside your home. The router makes the signal readable on your devices.
Fixed wireless is a great rural internet option where terrain is relatively even because it is using radio waves to connect you to the internet. To clarify, fixed wireless is not Wi-Fi. Instead, fixed wireless provides a direct point-to-point connection, requiring line-of-sight between the access point and reception device. Wi-Fi signals can pass through or around minor barriers but a fixed wireless signal can’t do that.
Fixed wireless is sometimes mistakenly referred to as mobile wireless internet. The two are different. Let’s clarify the differences.
Fixed wireless internet is designed to be the primary internet connection for a specific area or building. It uses a point-to-point connection from a tower to a receiver, providing a stable and reliable connection. It has low latency so there is a minimal delay in data transmission.
On the other hand, mobile wireless internet is an additional service connected to a cell phone plan. It allows for internet access while on the go and relies on cell towers for connectivity. This means that the connection can be more susceptible to fluctuations and interruptions.
Mobile wireless internet is designed to be portable and fixed wireless is, as its name implies, stationary. It doesn’t allow you to access the internet wherever you go the way mobile wireless does. Fixed wireless internet provides connectivity only within a specific range from the tower.
Bandwidth and data caps also differ between the two. Mobile wireless internet often shares bandwidth with other users in the area, which can result in slower speeds during peak usage times. It also commonly has data caps, limiting the amount of data you can use each month. Fixed wireless internet, on the other hand, offers higher bandwidth and higher data caps, providing a more consistent and reliable internet experience.
Fixed wireless requires line-of-sight access between the subscriber and a ground station. Obstructions like hills or trees can prevent it from being installed in some locations. Rain or fog can also affect the quality of the service.
Fixed wireless internet connections will let you stream video but what about the popular 4K resolution that looks great? It takes a minimum download speed of approximately 25 Mbps to stream in 4K resolution. Make sure the plan you choose has at least that speed if you want to stream in 4K. Streaming – especially at higher resolutions like HD and 4K, uses a lot of data so plans with unlimited data are great and will remove one stress factor from your internet usage.
Air Advantage offers a limited amount of fiber connections; a type of high-speed internet connection that utilizes fiber optic cables to transmit data. Unlike traditional copper-based connections, which use electrical signals, fiber optic cables rely on pulses of light to carry information. Fiber optic cables are made of thin strands of glass or plastic called optical fibers. These fibers are capable of transmitting data over long distances at extremely high speeds and with minimal loss of signal quality. The data is converted into light signals, which travel through the fibers via internal reflections.